Dr. Lawrence E. Jones and J.J. Jerome will make their U2030 debuts after wowing the U2030 team at other industry events

ALPHARETTA, GA. — September 21, 2026 — Two speakers who stopped the Utility 2030 Leadership Collaborative (U2030) team in its tracks at other industry events will make their U2030 debuts during the 2026 SPARK Annual Meeting, September 28–30 at Saint Kate Arts Hotel in Milwaukee.

“When we experience a speaker who changes how we see the industry’s future, we want to bring them to our members,” says Vanessa Edmonds, CEO and founder of U2030. “Dr. Lawrence E. Jones and J.J. Jerome each bring a powerful perspective on the forces reshaping utilities—and both left us wanting to hear more.”

On Tuesday, September 29, from 10:25 to 10:55 a.m., Dr. Jones will present “Energy-Brain Nexus: New Paradigms for Utilities to Design and Operate Electricity Grids.” An ecosystem builder and energy-nexus entrepreneur, he will explore how artificial intelligence, ethics, resilience, and human intelligence must work together to shape the grid’s future.

On Wednesday, September 30, from 11:40 to 11:55 a.m., Jerome of BGE will present “Power Hungry: The Utility Industry in 2035.” Through a concise, story-driven vision of the next decade, he will examine how AI, rising electricity demand, and grid modernization could reshape the utility landscape and the broader economy.

Their featured keynotes reflect SPARK 2026’s theme, Our Hyper-Connected Futures, and U2030’s commitment to bringing fresh, consequential voices into the conversations utility leaders need now.

To learn more or register, visit utility2030.org/events/spark-annual-meeting.

About Utility 2030 Leadership Collaborative

Utility 2030 Leadership Collaborative is a leadership collaborative for the people carrying transformation inside utilities. Through leadership programs, peer workgroups, events and advisory services, U2030 helps utility professionals build the relationships, insight and capacity required to lead meaningful change. Learn more at utility2030.org.

Media Contact

Isaac Edmonds
iedmonds@utility2030.org